SALEM, N.H. — Friends call her "crazy." Mom can't bear to watch.
Big brother brags about Melissa Demers to just about anyone who'll listen.
And tomorrow night, everybody's heart will beat just a bit quicker when Demers, a 2008 Salem High grad, makes her debut in the cage as part of Combat Zone 30, a mixed martial arts card at Rockingham Park.
"They all support me because they know it's something that I love," said Demers, who'll face Shannon Harney of Salem, Mass., in a 110-pound amateur clash. "I am very happy about it, and a little nervous, not because of the fight, just the first time being in the cage. I can't wait."
Exactly how does a 20-year-old, who didn't play sports in high school, decide to pursue a career path where someone is always trying to kick, punch, gouge, elbow or choke you?
"I started karate when I was about 6 or 7 and stuck with it till I reached my limit as a black belt at 11 or 12," said Demers, whose real job is working on the third-shift stocking team at Wal-Mart. "When it came to sparring, I won an awful lot of first-place trophies.
"About a year ago, I heard about MMA and found out that my uncle, Lenny Demers, trains fighters. I knew I loved fighting, so I took it up."
Training out of the Kenpo Karate Academy in Derry with the Team Fury MMA group, Demers was hooked, almost instantly.
"The more I did it, the more I liked it," said Demers. "Now, it's to the point where if I'm not working, and I'm not sleeping, I'm training."
Competing in an event where the goal is to rip an opponent's head off, Demers feels quite at home.
"To me, it's not that I want to hurt people, but I want to make it big," she said.
"I want to become a pro fighter. Everything about it is great. If I'm upset or having a bad day, all I do is go into the gym and relieve stress and tension by hitting the bags. I love doing that, it makes me feel better."
The toughest part of training for this fight has been taking off weight. Demers started training at 131 pounds and is down to about 115, needing to shred five more before tonight's weigh-in.
After that, all that remains is flipping the switch and unleashing her wrath on Harney.
"I plan on running straight across the cage, keeping my guard up, and do what I was taught, what comes naturally," she promised, knowing full well Harney might do the same.
"I'm willing to take those chances."
Fight card set
About a dozen fights, both pro and amateur, are slated for tomorrow night's Combat Zone MMA 30 at the Rock headlined by Dennis Olson squaring off against John Manley.
Derry pro Tom Moreau will look to improve his 4-1 mark against 5-4 Marcos Maciel.
Lawrence pro Jeff Silva (0-1) tangles with Derry's Jared Dumais (1-1). Haverhill's Dan Bonnell (7-5) looks to knock off undefeated Zack Burhans (3-0) of Cortland, N.Y.
In a matchup of 1-0 amateurs, Atkinson's David Spero hooks up with Cortland, N.Y.'s Mike Winter.
Lawrence amateur Jamie Courtney (0-1) is also slated to be in action.
Doors open at 6:30. The action starts at 8 p.m. Tickets, ranging form $40-$120, will be available at the door.
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